One month had passed since the new students had entered the academy.
While there was a difference in ability between individuals, everyone was slowly becoming able to use their magic. Soon, they were notified that the previously restricted magical combat class would soon begin.
And now the day of the first class was upon them.
“I suppose many of you already know me, but my name is Darwin Streek. I’m in charge of the academy’s magical combat class. And by the way, I am a Grand Master of Magic with the qualification of Rank One Estoria Certified Mage. The difference in magical abilities between us is worlds apart. Understood? That means do not make me angry if you value your life, you dullards.”
Right from the start, Professor Darwin’s foreboding introduction and his intense glare made the students tremble.
The class was held in a magic training ground in the basement of the academy.
The students were lined up in an orderly fashion in the center of the large circular field.
Typically, magical combat lessons were conducted together with two classes, but all three—the White Class, the Blue Class, and the Red Class—were present to commemorate the first day of training.
“Magic holds tremendous power—it is a beacon of supreme wisdom and the search for the truths of this world,” said Professor Darwin. “Yet you dullards think of magic as nothing but an invitation to a job, a stepping stone to your own success, a certificate of self-expression that sets you apart from others, or even simply a strong weapon for your personal use. How truly unimaginative and shallow. Your naive complacency created by these times of relative peace and your level of stupidity makes me shudder. It is beyond deplorable. You should be ashamed.”
Does this guy know how to say anything besides insults?
The students were dumbfounded at the way Darwin hurled one verbal barb after another.
“Within all great and sublime magic lurks the inescapable reality of the danger and darkness in its very nature,” the professor continued. “Mages are drawn to each other by a fateful attraction. Thus, as long as mages exist, struggles between them are inevitable. History has proven this time and time again. Hence, my class teaches how one may control that very struggle between mages. And by mastering these magical struggles, we may come closer to learning certain truths. So now, you dullards—fight.”
““““Huh?””””
The students were taken aback by Darwin’s sudden declaration.
“What are you gaping for, idiots? I’m telling you to immediately go at each other in magical combat. Use all the weak and pathetic magic you fools have learned so far to its greatest extent. No need to hold back.”
“Uh, okay, but…you haven’t taught us anything about how to use magic in battles yet…”
“Do you really think you dullards, as you are now, would be able to comprehend the theories of magic warfare if I were to teach you? Stay your arrogance. It is better to learn by doing. Right now, pick any random opponent present here and fight until one of you collapses. Once you finish that, change partners, and go again until one of you collapses. Don’t worry. As long as you don’t die, I’ll heal your wounds. I’m just that nice of a person.”
““““…””””
“Whoever reaches five total victories may leave. Losers must stay. And for any of you idiot failures who are still here at the end of class, I’ll give you some special training myself. I’ll make you regret being born.”
““““…””””
“What are you waiting for? Oh, I see. Rather than fight your fellow classmates, you’d rather fight me? Fine, I’ll humor you. Come at me, all at once.”
Professor Darwin’s gaze was dead serious. He raised his arm and began casting a fierce magic spell.
“Eeeeek?!”
“This is too hardcore!”
“What’s this guy’s probleeeeemmmm?!”
In a mad rush, the students started looking for battle partners.
To put it lightly, the class was like a scene from hell.
All around the basement’s magic training grounds, students were paired up and desperately fighting back and forth in magical combat.
Trying their best to utilize the spells they had only just recently learned, they put all their energy in trying to down their opponents.
Jeers. Screams. Sobbing. The sound of magic ripping through the air.
Here and there, battered, defeated students collapsed unconscious, while the winners, also looking worn-out and ragged, raised their arms in delight.
“Dammit, this class is out of control! What is the professor thinking?!” Randy yelled in frustration after finishing his first battle.
Luckily, his partner had been a beginner in magic as well, and somehow Randy had managed to win. But he was still covered in burns.
“Ugh… Ow… It hurts…”
Annie, who had also just finished her first battle, was clutching at a bruise on her leg with tears in her eyes.
She had been knocked to the ground by a spell called Air Bullet, which shot a ball of air at its target.
“Grr… I cannot comprehend this. Why would the professor do something so rash…when we have students like Annie among us who aren’t suited to battle?”
Unsurprisingly, Serephina had earned a flawless victory in her first match, but she was boiling with anger over the perplexing format Darwin had forced upon them.
Uh…is it really impossible to avoid fighting, even in the world of magic…? Hrm…
Elsewhere, Rix was feeling uncertain, pondering over what Darwin had said.
No, no, that can’t be right! I mean, I know mages who ended up working as magical doctors in the countryside, leading peaceful lives with their beautiful wives and kids!
This professor’s way of thinking is just particularly extreme, right?! Probably! Yeah!
That aside, he needed to deal with the current situation somehow.
Pretty soon, he was going to have to take on his first battle. Darwin was watching him.
Rix started looking around for a partner, when…
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Rix.”
…Alfred appeared in front of him, wearing a confident expression.
“Finally, it’s time to make the difference between us clear,” he told Rix. “A swordsman can never win against a mage. It’s time for you to learn the real meaning of that phrase.”
“Alfred…”
“It’s all right, go ahead…you can use that sword of yours as much as you like. Even if it’s a real blade, a thing like that is nothing more than a tree branch against a mage. You’ll accept my challenge, won’t you? You won’t be running away from this opportunity, right? Right, Rix?”
Alfred, seemingly already confident in his ability to win this fight, was staring silently at Rix.
This was part of a class assignment in the first place. Rix had to battle someone.
It looked like there was no avoiding this conflict with Alfred.
“Understood. Let’s do this.”
Rix accepted. Then—
“—?!”
—suddenly, as if he had just noticed something, he broke into a run.
“Come here, Rix. A match just finished, so there’s a spot open— Gwaaaaaaah?!”
He sprinted at Alfred and knocked him over, sending Alfred flying in the opposite direction.
“Wh-what on earth?!”
“H-hey! What are you doing?!”
“Rix?!”
Serephina, Randy, and Annie hurried after Rix to see what was going on.
He was headed toward a crowd—and within that crowd, a gruesome scene was playing out.
“Gya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Hey, Shino! Is that all you’ve got?!”
“Urgh… Urk… U-ugh…”
There, covered in burns and bruises, a pitiful sight to behold…was the White Class’s notorious loner: Shino.